Box-fastener



(No Model.)

W. & J. RUSH.

BOX FASTENEE.

No. 387,260. Patented Aug. 7, 1888.

' :FNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM BUSH AND JOHN RUSH, OF SHELBURNE FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOX-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 387,260, dated August 7, 1 888.

Application filed March 15, 1888. Serial No. 267.261. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, WILLIAM RUsH and JOHN RUsH, of Shelburne Falls, in the county of Franklin and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Box-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to box-fasteners, and has for its object to simplify and cheapen the construction and application of such devices; to prevent the accidental opening of the box during transportation; to avoid the use of brads or nails; to produce a fastener that shall be out of sight and not interfere with the packing of the boxes close together, and one that may be readily operated. This is accomplished by the construction shown in the drawings, in

which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box provided with our improved fastener; Fig. 2, a perspective view of the same with the lid opened; Fig. 3, a sectional view on the line 1 1, Fig. 1; and Fig. 4, a view of the parts of the fastener.

Into the upper edge of the front side of the box is driven a wire loop or staple, A, the under side of the crossbar of which is raised a slight distance from the upper edge of the box front, so as to permit the insertion beneath said cross-bar of a tongue,B,formed in a plate, 0, secured to the lid of the box, as shown. The lid is provided with a socket or recess,D, in its under face, which, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is partly covered by the plate 0, which latter is secured in position by brads which pass through the lid and plate. The plate 0 is made of sheet-steel or sheet-brass, and is provided with a tongue, B, which is adapted to enter or be inserted between the upright arms of the staple, as shown in Fig. 3. The exact form of this tongue is a matter that is capable of considerable variation, and we do not wish to restrict ourselves to any particular form of tongue. So, too, with regard to the plate, which may be made more or less ornamental in appearance and secured to the box in any other manner than that indicated. The tongue projects inwardly toward the hinge of the lid, and is arranged so as to enter When it is desired to close the lid,it is only necessary to press the latter down until the spring-tongue B strikes upon the top of the loop or staple, when a little more pressure will cause the free end of the tongue to ride over the cross-bar of the loop and slip or enter beneath the same.

To open the box it is only necessary, ordinarily, to press inward upon the front wall of the box, thereby carrying the loop or staple wholly or partially off the tongue. Where the staple is not pushed inward far enough to entirely clear the tongue, the elasticity of the latter will permit the lid to be opened or raised without difficulty.

The positions of the plate and the staple or loop may obviously be reversed, the plate being secured to the box proper and the staple to the lid; but we prefer the arrangement shown.

It will be noticed that there are no parts of the fastener projecting either from the inside or outside faces of the box, which would tend to operate the fastener; and, further, that no special devices are required for opening the box, pressure by the thumb upon the front face being sufficient.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is In a box-fastener, the combination, with a box and its lid, of a loop or staple secured to one of said parts, and a plate provided with a tongue and secured to the other part over a recess therein, substantially as shown.

In witness whereof we hereto set our hands in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM RUSH.

JOHN RUSH.

Witnesses:

HENRY R. WINTERHALDER, A. H. SWEET. 

